Lebanon Valley College

Category Archives: Study Abroad

Within the past decades, China has grown to become the world’s second largest economy, fast surpassing that of its rivals in an explosion of economic expansion. This economic status has led to increases in the consumption of education and luxury goods, trademark developments of a developed country. The internationalization of the Chinese culture includes an increased marketability of both Mandarin and experience in the East Asian world. Through the work of the Center for Global Education, Lebanon Valley College is now proud to offer a study abroad program to Shanghai, China.

Studying abroad in Shanghai, in comparison to the other European programs that the college offers, can appear daunting due to the extremity of the cultural and linguistic differences. Fortunately MyWorldAbroad has several resources that will be very helpful in alleviating any pre-departure anxiety. Under the ‘Top Resources’ section are a series of country guides (specific by region) and tips on travel smarts to help educate students on the norms of their destination. Unique to this study abroad experience is an optional internship opportunity, and students can learn about international internships and the expectations of other countries through the ‘What Do You Want to Do?’ > “Intern Abroad” sections.

Most helpful to students is the 4 Big Things tab, which divides the site into two sections; studying abroad (‘While in School’) and working abroad (‘While Looking for Work’). In this area, students can access all of the site’s articles that pertain to studying abroad, which discuss not only preparation for the study abroad experience, but how to speak professionally about a semester abroad once they return. By making an effort to examine and understand these unique aspects of other cultures (and understanding the quirks of American culture!), students can become adjusted faster, alleviate homesickness, and have an overall better experience! Happy Travels.

-Marie Gorman, student assistant for the Center for Career Development

Students are constantly being bombarded with databases and resources that are supposed to make their lives simpler and research process easier. The number of options can be overwhelming, and each additional program seems to make things more complicated. Thankfully, MyWorldAbroad is not another endless database but a searchable academic site comprised of informative content.

As a student interested in going abroad, MyWorld Abroad can inform you of the cultural norms of a country before you arrive. Many students fear appearing “like a stereotypical American” or an outsider, and can fear the cultural divide more than the communicative divide. Tips sheets and the stories of others who have already been abroad can help travelers to understand the perceptions of their host nation and learn to better adapt to these norms.

Students who have already been abroad may be interested in finding ways to finalize or formalize their experience. By submitting to the MyWorldBlog, students have the possibility of earning a monetary reward by writing about their time abroad. Two entire sections of the site are devoted to writing and speaking about study abroad experiences for the workplace, and also provide advice about the international application and hiring process.

Students who are not interested in going abroad may be interested in the country guides, which allow students to grow their international intelligence (IQ). These are organized by country, and can be used in the classroom and for assignments that require knowledge about world regions and the latest significant events. Guides can range from economics and international trade routes to feminism and the treatment of women in the Middle East. The variety of resources ranges from online articles to books to movies.

If you have a question about the world we live in, MyWorldAbroad has an answer. Simply head to the website for the Center for Career Development to get started!

- Marie Gorman, student assistant with the Center for Career Development

Lebanon Valley College graduates find themselves studying and working all over the place. Sometimes they remain in Central Pennsylvania; sometimes they go across the globe. It’s fascinating and fun for the College to learn of the stories that explain what took one alumnus one way vs. another. As a student, you may also be wondering what’s out there and how you can expand upon your own career story. Perhaps there is a city you dream of, a state that excites you, or a study abroad destination that you yearn to return to.

Often times, when someone is telling a career story, the ignition point (the way in which the path was influenced or determined) is a resource they learned of, a networking connection they happened to make, a dream that they turned into a plan, a situation that set off a series of events, etc. Whatever the case, it has to start somewhere! Unfortunately, I can’t introduce you to networking contacts through a Blog (unless you’d like me to tell you about Career Connections, an online mentoring program that connects current students to LVC alumni and parents who have volunteered to offer career guidance…), nor can I turn your dream into a plan (although I could start by referring you to our TIP Sheet on Preparing Students to Reach Employment Destinations), but I can certainly introduce you to a few (more) resources!

Your JobCenter account will connect you with jobs or internships that employers post. It will also give you access to an employer directory that introduces you to companies who have recruited here in the past, as well as a Resource Library with oodles of folders on employers or internship programs to check out. Still, you may be interested in broadening your search considerably to focus on a specific industry or area. There are hundreds, probably thousands, of websites out there to help facilitate your search; so many, in fact, that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Although we don’t endorse one over another, nor can anyone claim that one website casts a net broad enough to capture every opportunity, one site we would encourage you to take a look at is Urban Employ.

Urban Employ posts thousands of internships and jobs in major metropolitan regions for businesses, nonprofits, and governments. Interested in Atlanta? Chicago? Denver? Los Angeles? New York? Philadelphia? Search for positions representing 75+ fields in 25 major metropolitan areas. It certainly isn’t the only website out there, but it’s a great starting place!

Looking to travel a bit further? Say…overseas to study, volunteer, intern, teach, or work? Our office has partnered with the office of Study Abroad and the Bishop Library to offer My World Abroad, a vast resource for our students and graduates to utilize. When I say vast, I mean vast enough to have necessitated the creation of a User’s Guide to give users a glimpse of what they’ll see when they create an account and log in! I can’t even begin to describe all of the information you can gain by spending some time browsing; instead, I’ll offer a snapshot of the “table of contents” that will likely persuade anyone interested in leading their career story abroad to investigate further:

So, although we cannot be the authors of your career story, the office of career services will gladly offer you resources, a listening ear, advice and guidance on your professional development and pursuits, and always, always, always, a place where you can share and celebrate the events of your story, whether they take you down the road, across the country, or half-way across the world!

I’ve said it many times, it’s not the activity that matters to the employer, it’s what you’ve gained from that activity that counts. The key is to identify the skills you’re developing, explain situations you’ve encountered, and make connections between your past behavior and how you will likely perform as a professional.

Involvement in clubs or organizations, community service, athletics, internships, and any work experiences (paid or unpaid) all count as valuable activities. Don’t discount your academic involvement either! Group projects and class assignments encourage critical thinking and team work; research papers and projects develop investigative and communication skills. And what about those of you who have spent (or plan to spend) a semester studying abroad? There is a wealth of attitudes and skills you acquire from an international experience.

For those of you studying abroad, consider participating in the new program, Expanding the Journey, a collaboration between the offices of Study Abroad and Career Services. You may have read Kaitlyn McDonald’s article about it in a recent edition of La Vie Collegienne, but in case you missed it, Kaitlyn has given permission for me to post it here!

“Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, if you let it.

Being abroad will test your comfort zone, push your emotional boundaries, and open you up to experiences that you never knew existed. That is a lot to deal with on your own, both emotionally and physically. Luckily, there is a new program on campus that aids future study abroad students through their future endeavors.” Read Kaitlyn McDonald’s full article ->